Unit of Assessment

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Summary of the impact

Dr Lister's pioneering research into people's perceptions of safety in
relation to anti-terrorism measures has significantly shaped and informed
public and political debate in this complex and controversial area. Lister
has co-authored submissions to the Home Office, provided a policy briefing
to the National Assembly for Wales, hosted a workshop with representatives
from `think tanks' and government departments. Additionally, he has
engaged with a variety of civil society/advocacy groups and published
commentary (including by invitation) on this area of public policy. Lister
has highlighted the negative experiences of a range of ethnic minority
citizens, as well as demonstrating the merits of using evidence based
research in a highly political and sensitive arena.

Underpinning research

The research which underpins this impact stems from research undertaken
within Lister's (Oxford Brookes University 2007-present) Economic and
Social Research Council (ESRC) funded project, with Dr Lee Jarvis of
Swansea University, (which itself builds upon his ESRC funded doctoral and
postdoctoral research on citizenship and participation in the UK). The
ESRC project ran from September 2009 to January 2011 and sought to explore
how ordinary people think about counter-terrorism policy. Specifically, it
explored how counter-terrorist measures impact on perceptions or
experiences of security and citizenship within the UK, and the
significance of geographical residence and ethnicity as explanatory
factors within this. The project undertook 15 focus groups in different
parts of the UK, to access in-depth, qualitatively rich attitudes of
specific communities and groups. The impact of the research was achieved
during the writing up of the research.

A first major finding was around attitudes to anti-terrorism measures. A
range of discourses sceptical of anti-terrorism measures were identified,
including fears of their misuse, civil liberties concerns, views of their
ineffectiveness and also concerns about creating a climate of fear. Positive
views were also encountered, including satisfaction that government was
"doing something", an understanding of the need for such measures, and a
view that sufficient safeguards to protect liberties were in place. Whilst
differences between ethnic groups in terms of attitudes toward
anti-terrorism policies are slight (in terms of support for such policies or
otherwise), there are pronounced differences in the impact of such measures
(perceived and experienced) upon distinct citizens and communities. A common
concern highlighted that anti-terrorism measures have impacted
disproportionately on rights, responsibilities and the opportunities for
social/political participation amongst communities, with white individuals
less targeted than non-white individuals. Thus, a key finding was that
ethnic minority citizens more broadly, and not just Muslim or those of South
Asian background, felt targeted. This raises the possibility that
anti-terrorism measures may exacerbate issues and problems around
citizenship by negatively affecting the citizenship of minority communities.
Such differences point to genuine concerns surrounding the universality of
citizenship within the UK, and the rights, responsibilities and
opportunities for political participation associated with this status (see
Jarvis & Lister, 2012).

A second key finding within this research was that security is understood
in a broad and varied fashion across the United Kingdom. Six dominant and
discrete security imaginaries were articulated to Jarvis and Lister by
members of the public within their focus groups. These linked the concept
of security to survival, contentment, hospitality, equality, freedom and
insecurity respectively (see Jarvis & Lister, 2013).

A third aspect of the research is an analysis of the ways in which
contemporary anti-terrorism measures seek to deploy and make use of
citizens as tools of anti-terrorism. Contemporary initiatives are heavily
reliant on the continued participation of citizens for their functioning;
a reliance persistently justified by claims to uncertainty, even
ignorance, among political elites. This "stakeholder security" leads to
the conscription of ordinary individuals into the state's security
apparatuses, a conscription that positions citizens precariously as
simultaneously technologies, subjects and objects of security. (See Jarvis
& Lister, 2010)

Details of the impact

The specific impacts of Lister's research can be characterised as
informing the public policy debate with evidenced-based research in an
area of government policy that is highly politically charged. Within a
comparatively short period he has been able to achieve a substantial reach
and significance to the role of informing the policy process. At the same
time as drafting the key research outputs listed above, Lister (with
co-author Jarvis) undertook a range of impact activities, including
writing briefing papers for wider audiences and giving presentations on
the research.

The diversity of audiences with whom Lister has undertaken impact-related
activities attests to this, which include: government agencies, lobby
groups, think-tanks and civil society organisations.

The nature and extent of his impact is divided into two broad categories:
contribution to the policy process, and influence on public policy debate.

Contribution to the policy process:

A co-authored, with Dr Lee Jarvis, a submission to the Home Office
Rapid Review of Counter Terrorism Powers (announced by the Home
Secretary on 13 July 2010). The submission was acknowledged in the
review findings, published on 26/01/11. Specific policy recommendations
within the submission included:

I. For counter terrorism policies to be more widely accepted and viewed
with greater legitimacy, their security-enhancing aspects should be more
clearly demonstrated to citizens;

III. A need to render stop and search powers more acceptable to certain
sections of the population by making permanent the revisions announced
by the Home Secretary in the House of Commons on 08/07/10.

This latter recommendation, in line with a European Court of Human
Rights ruling, was adopted in the Protections of Freedom Act 2012. This
has meant the ending of a power which saw, at its height in 2008/09,
over 200,000 people stopped and searched.

Hosting a workshop with relevant stakeholders in the
counter-terrorism and community cohesion arenas in London (14/01/11).
Attendees included representatives of the following organisations: the
Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism (OSCT), Metropolitan Police
Authority, the Muslim Contact Unit, the Muslim Council of Britain, the
Institute for Race Relations, and Facilitators for a Better Jamaica.

A Swansea University National Assembly Briefing, National Assembly
for Wales, Cardiff. (07/12/10): Feeling Secure? The Public and UK
Counter-terrorism Powers.

Influence on public policy debate:

As well as having direct influence on policy, Lister's research has
shaped and informed public and political debate in this complex and
controversial area, in the main by illuminating the experiences of a range
of ethnic minority citizens. Drawing on the primary qualitative evidence
gathered in the ESRC project, the research has highlighted the negative
impact of many anti-terrorism measures on Black and Asian citizens. Whilst
the impact on many Muslim/Asian citizens may be frequently discussed in
the public debate, the recognition that the negative effects of
anti-terrorism measures go wider and reach other ethnic minority groups
represents a distinctive contribution to the public debate. Articles for
the Muslim Council of Britain (2011a, published online 15/06/11) and
openDemocracy.net (2011b, 05/02/11) have helped to contribute to the
public debate on these issues, as witnessed by their citation in other
public discussions on these issues (see Awan, 2012, and White & McEvoy
2012)

Sources to corroborate the impact

Policy influence/impact:

Jarvis, L. & Lister, M. (2010) Counter-terrorism, Citizenship and
Security in the UK. Evidence submitted to the Home Office Rapid Review of
Counter Terrorism Powers, announced by the Home Secretary on 13 July 2010.
Submission comprised a co-authored 49pp. summary of evidence prepared by
Dr. Lee Jarvis and Dr. Michael Lister. (available from Oxford Brookes
University Research Support Office)

Corroborating statement author 4. IPPR, Centre for the Analysis of
Social Media (CASM) at Demos — (email which states: "Demos' work, across
the many policy areas that it works on, shares a common concern to
connect normal people to the policymaking process. Dr Lister's work has
been important in helping us to think about what that would mean on
questions of security and public safety")